As coaches, we must find better ways to utilize our practice time. Just about everything we do has to have multiple purposes so we have the maximum amount of time to teach and prepare our players to be the best they can be.

Gone, I believe, are the days we can take 15 - 20 minutes out for practice to condition our players. Suicides, 17s, sprints, etc. are of limited
effectiveness anyway, I think, but to use skill or team time to do them is a misplaced priority.

Here is a drill that conditions, reinforces defensive footwork, build intensity and only take a few minutes.

Instructions

Start with team divided into as many lines as necessary to go 3 deep (12 players – 4 lines – 3 players in each line).

On the whistle, the first players in line sprint to mid-court and stutter-step.

Coach points in a direction and players defensive slide diagonally back in the direction the coach points.

Coach points in other direction, players slide appropriately.

Players slide to the baseline, as soon as they touch the baseline, players sprint to foul line and stutter-step.

Coach points in a direction and players defensive slide laterally in that direction.

Coach points in other direction, players slide appropriately.

On the whistle, first group of players sprint to the opposite end of the court and touch the rim 10 Xs. At the same time,
second group of players sprint from the baseline to mid-court to begin their rotation.

Start with 2 direction changes, then go to 4 on the second rotation, 6 on the 3rd rotation and 8 on the 4th.

Inside the 5 minutes it takes to run this drill, you have been able to practice your diagonal defensive slide, lateral defensive slides, sprints, reactions, jumping and conditioning.

Because the drill only takes a couple of minutes, intensity remains high and because the players are practicing a skill they know will make them better, their willingness to complete the drill is not an issue.

My son is 15 years old,I am looking for exercises to improve his upper body strength (arms,shoulders,chest). I''''''''m afraid to put him under weights training due to fear of not attaining his maximum height potentia. Please advise.

Good drill. But as a coach I prefer not to point to the direction but to dribble the ball to each side like a player does in a 1on1 situation. Besides you can practice how fast your players go, it just depends on the coach with the ball if he goes or runs.Anyways an excellent drill. I gonna try it with my u14 next time.

I coached girls one year after coaching boys varsity for 16. They told me to treat them just like I did the boys.... I laughed. I told them that I would coach them like I did the boys but I wont be as vocal.

In order for girls to play well, they have to be happy. In order for boys to be happy, they have to win or play well.

Treat them fairly and you shouldn't have too many problems. I think the girls game is a little slower and they play below the rim so that might be an adjustment for you to look at.

They are more sensitive and more family oriented for sure ( the girls I coached were sophomores ) One girl told me that she had to leave early the next day, I asked why? She said it was Halloween and she had to take her little brother trick or treating... I coached a long time but NEVER heard that one before. Of course, I gave her the OK but said he had to come give me a piece of candy after practice the following day. :-)

Thanks for the drill! A friend of mine is working as a coach for the local high school basketball team. He''''''''s looking at ways to improve defensive fotwork. I think these drills would be helpful. I''''''''ll send him a copy. Thanks!